In the 2013–14 season, Rotherham United competed in League One, after a late surge in the closing stages of League Two (resulting in them being the first team to win five consecutive matches that season), saw them finishing second, behind Gillingham, and ahead of Port Vale - whom spent all season in the top two. The club also took part in the annual Capital One Cup and FA Cup, and spent another season in the lower tier tournament, the Johnstones Paint Trophy. United commenced the season under the retained management of Steve Evans, alongside assistant Paul Raynor. They went into the season as decent favourites for promotion, as well as contenders for the Johnstones Paint Trophy.